PC Number: 2012-0825

Date: 2012-06-19

Whereas Woodland Rail LLC intends to purchase a line of railway approximately 12 miles in length running between Baileyville, Maine and St. Stephen, New Brunswick from the Maine Central Railroad Company;

Whereas the Sprague’s Falls Bridge, the Baring Bridge, the Salmon Falls Bridge, three international railway bridges that span the St. Croix River between St. Stephen, New Brunswick and Baileyville, Maine, are part of the line of railway that Woodland Rail LLC intends to purchase from the Maine Central Railroad Company;

Whereas the railway line and the three international railway bridges will, following their purchase or acquisition by Woodland Rail LLC, be operated by the Eastern Maine Railway Company pursuant to agreements to be entered into between Woodland Rail LLC and the Eastern Maine Railway Company;

Whereas paragraphs 23(1)(a) and (b) of the International Bridges and Tunnels Act provide that no person shall, without the approval of the Governor in Council, purchase or otherwise acquire or operate an international bridge or tunnel;

And whereas an application was received by the Minister of Transport pursuant to subsection 24(1) of the International Bridges and Tunnels Act, for approval by the Governor in Council of the purchase or acquisition of the Sprague’s Falls Bridge, the Baring Bridge and the Salmon Falls Bridge by Woodland Rail LLC and their operation by the Eastern Maine Railway Company;

Therefore, His Excellency the Governor General in Council, on the recommendation of the Minister of Transport, pursuant to subsection 25(1) of the International Bridges and Tunnels Act, approves the application submitted to the Minister in respect of the purchase or acquisition of the Sprague’s Falls Bridge, the Baring Bridge and the Salmon Falls Bridge by the Woodland Rail LLC and their operation by the Eastern Maine Railway Company.

Attendu que la Woodland Rail LLC se propose d’acheter de la Maine Central Railroad Company une ligne de chemin de fer d’une longueur d’environ douze miles entre Baileyville (Maine) et St. Stephen (Nouveau-Brunswick);

Attendu que les ponts Sprague’s Falls, Baring et Salmon Falls, trois ponts ferroviaires internationaux qui enjambent la rivière Sainte-Croix entre St. Stephen (Nouveau-Brunswick) et Baileyville (Maine), font partie de la ligne de chemin de fer que la Woodland Rail LLC se propose d’acquérir;

Attendu que la ligne de chemin de fer et les trois ponts ferroviaires internationaux seront, suivant leur achat par la Woodland Rail LLC, exploités par l’Eastern Maine Railway Company dans le cadre d’ententes conclues entre la Woodland Rail LLC et l’Eastern Maine Railway Company;

Attendu que le paragraphe 23(1) de la Loi sur les ponts et tunnels internationaux prévoit que nul ne peut, sans l’agrément du gouverneur en conseil, acquérir – notamment par achat – ou exploiter un pont ou tunnel international;

Attendu que la Woodland Rail LLC a, en vertu du paragraphe 24(1) de la Loi sur les ponts et tunnels internationaux, transmis au ministre des Transports une demande en vue d’obtenir l’agrément du gouverneur en conseil pour l’acquisition – par achat – des ponts Sprague’s Falls, Baring et Salmon Falls et l’exploitation de ceux-ci par l’Eastern Maine Railway Company,

À ces causes, sur recommandation du ministre des Transports et en vertu du paragraphe 25(1) de la Loi sur les ponts et tunnels internationaux, Son Excellence le Gouverneur général en conseil agrée la demande transmise au ministre à l’égard de l’acquisition – par achat – des ponts Sprague’s Falls, Baring et Salmon Falls par la Woodland Rail LLC et l’exploitation de ceux-ci par l’Eastern Maine Railway Company.